Rally backs nonunion Target janitors

Janitors who clean Targets held a one-day strike Tuesday, rallying with supporters in front of Target's downtown store.

Employees of cleaning companies who contract with Target and other retailers have been trying to unionize in recent years with the aid of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL). Tuesday, workers held a one-day strike at the Target on Nicollet Mall and nine other Target stores.

Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, said the company's vendors that are responsible for the store cleaning crews reported no interruption.

CTUL has been working the past three years to organize janitors who work for contractors that clean Twin Cities retailers and supermarkets. Many janitors who clean offices are already unionized.

About 4,000 janitors who clean major Twin Cities buildings, including Target's corporate office, are members of Service Employees International Union Local 26. A day before a Sunday strike deadline, Local 26 reached an agreement on a three-year contract with cleaning companies.

Janitors who make $13.42 an hour will get a 50 cents an hour raise under the new contract. CTUL spokespeople said nonunion janitors working for retailers make about $8.50 an hour.

Nonunion janitors and their supporters picketed in front of the downtown Minneapolis Target store on Tuesday. The nonunion janitors held a one-day strike at the store and nine other Target stores. RICHARD SENNOTT • Star Tribune

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